Walking
I always say I feel like I am running around in circles, so I thought I might as well walk one. This is the labyrith at the Edgar Cayce Center in Virginia Beach
Walking A Labyrith
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that represents wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It looks like a maze but is not. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no dead-ends. You cannot get lost. You just follow the path to the center and out again. You walk a labyrinth to learn its lessons. The labyrinth symbolizes a transformative journey to your own center and back out into the world. Labyrinths occur in all cultures and have long been used as tools for meditation, centering, and healing.
Labyrinths bring people together on the common path of life. Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people hear of a labyrinth, they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left brain task that requires logical thinking and analysis to find the correct path. A labyrinth is a rightbrain task involving intuition, creativity, imagery, and the search for possibility. A labyrinth has only one path. The way in is the way out. You cannot get lost
even though you may feel lost. The path leads you on a circuitous route to the
center and out again. It slows you down and helps you become centered. With a
maze many choices are required and an active mind is necessary. For a labyrinth
a receptive mindset is required. There is only one choice to be made. It is to
enter or not. The choice is whether or not you will walk an inner path towards
healing, health, and wholeness.
Brief Guide to Walking the Labyrinth
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth, since it is an activity that becomes a metaphor for your own spiritual journey in life. Some people walk with the intention to address an issue in their lives, others to pray and meditate. It is helpful to pause before you enter to center your thoughts on your intention.
Walk between the lines of the circuit, being aware that you are sharing the labyrinth with others. You may pass other walkers or let them step around you, whichever is easiest.
When you reach the center you have entered the most sacred space in the labyrinth. Allow yourself time to contemplate what it means for you to be there; honor this space in your life. The center is a place to pause, reflect and receive insight.
Walking the path back out of the labyrinth is a time for deep reflection and a chance to consider what it might mean for your daily living. For many, it is the most fruitful part of the walk. It can lead to action and renewal.
Walking A Labyrith
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that represents wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It looks like a maze but is not. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no dead-ends. You cannot get lost. You just follow the path to the center and out again. You walk a labyrinth to learn its lessons. The labyrinth symbolizes a transformative journey to your own center and back out into the world. Labyrinths occur in all cultures and have long been used as tools for meditation, centering, and healing.
Labyrinths bring people together on the common path of life. Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people hear of a labyrinth, they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left brain task that requires logical thinking and analysis to find the correct path. A labyrinth is a rightbrain task involving intuition, creativity, imagery, and the search for possibility. A labyrinth has only one path. The way in is the way out. You cannot get lost
even though you may feel lost. The path leads you on a circuitous route to the
center and out again. It slows you down and helps you become centered. With a
maze many choices are required and an active mind is necessary. For a labyrinth
a receptive mindset is required. There is only one choice to be made. It is to
enter or not. The choice is whether or not you will walk an inner path towards
healing, health, and wholeness.
Brief Guide to Walking the Labyrinth
There is no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth, since it is an activity that becomes a metaphor for your own spiritual journey in life. Some people walk with the intention to address an issue in their lives, others to pray and meditate. It is helpful to pause before you enter to center your thoughts on your intention.
Walk between the lines of the circuit, being aware that you are sharing the labyrinth with others. You may pass other walkers or let them step around you, whichever is easiest.
When you reach the center you have entered the most sacred space in the labyrinth. Allow yourself time to contemplate what it means for you to be there; honor this space in your life. The center is a place to pause, reflect and receive insight.
Walking the path back out of the labyrinth is a time for deep reflection and a chance to consider what it might mean for your daily living. For many, it is the most fruitful part of the walk. It can lead to action and renewal.
Labels: Spirituality
posted by Patty at
Monday, November 12, 2007
6 Comments:
This is a coincidence Autumn - I am working on a book at the moment which is going to called `Walking the Labyrinth'. We have small one in a park where I live and it's a wonderful meditation to walk it - we sometimes do it when we want to send healing to somebody.
I love labyrinths they are very calming for me. And it's so cool to see photos of different ones!
Maybe I should get on Labyrinth in last few weeks my spiritual life been like I've been in whirl wind and I'm starting get back into a ritual.
I don't if there any labyrinth around here or not.
That was really an interesting read. I loved the movie Labyrinth when I was young, but never really gave them much thought. I think I will have to find one to walk in one day.
Hi,
There is a labyrinth at the University of Mary but I have never managed to get out there. The U. is just a few miles south of Bismarck so it's not like it's difficult to get to. I will have to just make up my mind to go there and walk it. But next spring, now now. Snow flurries this morning!
Julie
This is a beautiful one. I enjoy walking labyrinths especially when there's nobody else around and I can fully concentrate. I also wish I had a large backyard so I could build one. Thanks for sharing.
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